What is chronic kidney disease? What is the staging standard?

Chronic kidney disease has become an important public health problem that threatens human health around the world, but awareness and diagnosis rates are generally low. Many patients who are diagnosed with chronic renal failure early will have a lot of questions, what exactly is chronic kidney disease? What are the staging criteria for kidney disease?

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive disease characterized by a gradual decline in kidney function, which may eventually lead to kidney failure. The causes of chronic kidney disease are diverse, including diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, genetic diseases, etc. Long-term kidney damage will cause toxins and wastes in the body to be unable to be discharged normally, leading to various complications, such as cardiovascular disease, anemia, bone mineral metabolism disorders, etc.

The staging criteria for chronic kidney disease are based on glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR is a measure of the kidneys’ ability to remove waste and excess water. Chronic kidney disease is divided into five stages based on different levels of GFR:

1. The first stage (mild renal impairment): GFR is between 90-120 ml/min/1.73 square meters. At this time, kidney function has not been significantly affected, and patients are usually asymptomatic.

2. The second stage (moderate renal function impairment): GFR is between 60-89 ml/min/1.73 square meters. At this time, kidney function has been damaged to a certain extent, and patients may experience mild symptoms, such as fatigue, Edema, etc.

3. The third stage (severe renal damage): GFR is between 30-59 ml/min/1.73 square meters. At this time, the kidney function further deteriorates, and the patient may experience obvious symptoms of discomfort, such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, etc.

4. The fourth stage (end-stage renal disease): GFR is between 15-29 ml/min/1.73 square meters. At this time, kidney function is severely damaged and the patient needs dialysis or kidney transplantation.

5. Stage 5 (kidney failure): GFR is lower than 15 ml/min/1.73 square meters. At this time, kidney function is lost and the patient needs to rely on dialysis or kidney transplantation to maintain life.

The diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease require comprehensive consideration of the patient’s clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, and imaging examinations. For patients with chronic kidney disease, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial to slow disease progression, improve quality of life, and reduce the risk of complications. Treatment methods include medication, controlling the cause, and adjusting lifestyle, etc. In some cases, patients may need dialysis or a kidney transplant.